Jul 31, 2008

I wrote earlier that Martin Luther was excommunicated in 1520. Actually, he was excommunicated on January 3, 1521.

Pope Leo X responded to Luther's 95 Theses on June 15, 1520 in a "Papal Bull" called Exsurge Domine, "Arise O Lord."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exsurge_Domine

While it did not formally excommunicate Luther, it commanded him to retract his statements and gave him a deadline of December 10, 1520. Meanwhile, he was to cease preaching.

When the deadline arrived, Luther burned the Bull. The Wickipedia article above says,

"Because Luther refused to comply, the pope issued the bull Decet Romanum Pontificem on January 3, 1521, excommunicating him."

I don't think this changes the basic facts or the connection with the year 2010. If anything, it probably adds some detail and gives us some extra watch dates in marking our calendars. It will be interesting to see what happens in a couple of years.